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Path Tool

The path tool (G+P or G+L) draws connected chains of straight lines and smooth bezier curves in one unified workflow. It is the most versatile drawing tool in the sketcher: click to place points, drag to bend the segment into a curve.

A path of two lines joined by a bezier segment, with its waypoints and handles

Drawing Paths​

  1. Select the path tool from the pie menu, the Sketch menu, or with G+P.
  2. Click to place the first point. A live preview follows the cursor.
  3. Click again without dragging to finish a straight segment — the next segment immediately starts from that point.
  4. Press at a point and drag before releasing to turn the segment into a bezier curve. The drag controls the "bow" of the curve.
  5. Keep adding points to build your path.
  6. Press Escape or double-click to finish the path.

While a preview is active, the status bar lists the modifier keys that apply, and Esc cancels it.

Working with Bezier Curves​

Bezier curves create smooth, organic shapes:

  • Adjust handles: select a bezier and drag the round handle endpoints to modify the curve shape. Each handle bends the curve on its side of the waypoint.
  • Connect to existing points: while drawing, magnetic snapping attaches new segments to existing points in your sketch, and the matching constraint is created automatically.

Waypoint Types​

The point where two segments of a path meet is a waypoint. The waypoint type controls how the curve flows through it:

  • Sharp: the handles on both sides are independent, producing a corner.
  • Smooth: the handles share a tangent, producing a continuous, rounded transition.
  • Symmetric: like Smooth, but the handles are also mirrored, so both sides bend equally.

To change a waypoint's type, right-click it (or the adjoining bezier segment) and pick the type from the pie menu. Newly drawn bezier waypoints are symmetric.

The pie menu on a selected bezier waypoint, with the Straighten, Sharp, Smooth, and Symmetric tools

Converting Curves to Lines​

The Straighten tool from the same pie menu converts bezier curves back to straight lines, which is useful when you need clean, simple geometry. Select the bezier segments you want to convert and apply the straighten action. The segments collapse to the straight connection between their endpoints.

Automatic Constraints​

The path tool participates in magnetic snapping like every other drawing tool. When snap guides show alignment during drawing, matching horizontal and vertical constraints are created automatically, which keeps your sketch tidy from the start rather than fixing things up afterward. Hold Shift to constrain the new segment to the nearest axis. See Grid and snapping for the full list of snap indicators.